Interested in Self-Defense? Officers from District D-14 in Brighton to Host Free RAD Training at the Oak Square YMCA. Officers from District A-7 in East Boston also scheduling a course:

Said one recent participant: "The benefits of hands-on training and experiencing real life assaults in a controlled environment will remain with me for a lifetime and there’s no doubt that I am more confident in my abilities to protect myself in the event of an attack. Thank you Boston Police.”

The Boston Police Department is offering a free, self-defense course called RAD at the Oak Square YMCA on four consecutive Monday evenings from 6:30 - 8:30pm on March 10, 17, 24 and the 31st.

RAD - which stands for Rape Aggression Defense System - is a program of realistic self-defense tactics and techniques designed for women that focuses on risk awareness, risk reduction and risk avoidance. Participants will learn the basics of hands-on self-defense training from Boston Police Officer who have been certified to instruct the course. The main goal of the program is to empower women through self-defense. The course is free of charge.

If you are interested in taking the course at the Oak Square YMCA, call the District D-14 Community Service Office at (617) 343-4376 or the Oak Square YMCA at (617) 782-3535. Class size is limited to 20 participants and participants should be at least 18 years of age or older.

Community members in East Boston interested in taking the course are encouraged to call the District A-7 Community Service Office at (617) 343-4752 for more information as it relates to dates, times & location of upcoming classes.